Clearview council OKs home dialysis policy

STAYNER - Clearview Township council has approved a water and sewer rebate policy for residents that receive kidney dialysis treatment at home.

The policy was approved at council+s meeting in Stayner last Monday night.

Council agreed to grant a 90 per cent rebate to patients.

-This helps two people in Stayner and it sets a policy for all of Clearview Township,+ Ward 7 councillor Shawn Davidson told The Sun.

The two residents in Stayner that receive dialysis at home approached Davidson late last year to see if there was anything the municipality could do to help offset high water and sewer bills due to the dialysis process, which involves using large amounts of water. The water is used to create aspiration.

Davidson raised the issue at a council meeting in December and staff was instructed to look into the matter.

A report presented to council last Monday night recommended either a 50 per cent or 100 per cent rebate but Davidson suggested 90 per cent and council agreed.

-Well I selected 90 per cent because the patient still has to absorb some cost and there is some cost to the township so I didn+t think 100 per cent was fair to everyone,+ he said.

The financial impact of the new policy is minimal.

-The cost analysis that staff did of what it means to the township is less than one per cent of our total water revenues. So it+s something we can do,+ Davidson said. -I feel the cost to Clearview is minimal compared to the benefit those people can bring to our community by having fuller and healthier lives.+

Home dialysis allows people to avoid traveling to hospital or a clinic for treatment several times a week.

The home treatment often also allows people greater flexibility to work and be involved in the community.

Dialysis is an artificial process of getting rid of waste and unwanted water from the blood. Kidneys normally handle this function but if they are not functioning properly dialysis is required.